Hi all, I've been a long time lurker and been given LOTS of useful information from here over the years, I've done a search and can't seem to find a similar thread...

I had the passenger side radiator oil hose replaced a couple of days ago at my local garage, due to the car losing quite a bit of oil prior to getting the hose replaced I also decided it was probably worth changing the oil (and both the air & oil filter).

Since changing the oil the oil warning light has been on, checking the levels it seems fine although I have noticed on the dipstick that the new oil doesn't appear to have mixed with the small amount of old oil that remained in the radiators/pipes and is more of a mess than the usual "gunk" on the dipstick after a short journey.

On a possibly related note the engine seems to have developed a rattling sound that sounds like something is loose, it's worse at low revs/idle or when going over bumps.

p.s. I drove it to work this morning and apart from the warning light and rattle the car drives perfectly.

Any ideas?

 

You are confusing me? Do you mean coolant? Or oil? They are 2 different systems.

 

Probably mean oil cooler when saying radiator.

The rattle noise could be a loose heat shield too.

 

Can you give us a better description of the "gunk" you see on the dipstick after a short drive. Go for a short drive, stop the car, turn off the ignition and pull the dipstick. Wipe it clean, reinsert it and pull it again. Describe what you see on the dipstick now.

 

Yes sorry I meant the oil cooler, I'm hoping the rattle is something as innocuous as a lose heat shield.

After a short drive the dipstick is covered in the usual yellowish/brown foam but after wiping it and re-inserting a few times to clear the gunk the oil has a bit of marbled effect. As I said, it seems like the new oil and small amount of old oil aren't getting along, almost like mixing oil with water.

Is it common that the oil level warning light would be on after changing the oil?
I'm aware the oil level sensor could be faulty (as I've also had the coolant level sensor go) but seems to much of a coincidence it should fail after changing the oil.